Tamper-proof easy-opening bottle cap

ABSTRACT

Tamper-proof, easy-opening bottle cap and combination thereof with bottle neck having a smooth cylindrical pouring spout, a flaring neck, and an interposed cylindrical enlargement forming first and second, upwardly- and downwardly-facing shoulders. The cap has a roof and a depending skirt constricted into channels at the levels of the shoulders. The upper constriction is of smaller dimension axially of the neck, than the spout and thus forms or defines an annular space facilitating insertion of a cutting blade to sever the roof from the skirt. The upper constriction also acts to hold a sealing pad against the roof. The lower constriction engages the second shoulder and retains the cap in place. The skirt terminates below the second shoulder in contact with the neck.

[ May 14, 1974 ylindriand an interposed ,Brumme ABSTRACT Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Tamper-proof, easy-opening bottle cap and combination thereof with bottle neck having a smooth 0 cal pouring spout, a flaring neck, cylindrical enlargement forming first and secon wardlyand downwardly-facing shoulders. The c has a roof and 2 depending skirt constricted into cha 712321 1 nels at the levels of the shoulders. The upper constric- 7209622 tion is of smaller dimension axially of the neck, than the spout and thus forms or defines an annular space facilitating insertion of a cutting blade to sever the roof from the skirt. The upper constriction also acts to hold a sealing pad against the roof. The lower constriction engages the second shoulder and retains the cap in place. The skirt terminates below the second shoulder in contact with the neck.

215/42 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 215/7, 215/42 H6lj 1/00, B65d 55/02 Field of Search...................

Data

France...................,.......... Mar. 20, 1972 France..............................

TAMPER-PROOF EASY-OPENING BOTTLE. CAP

Inventor: Henri Coursaut, Etroyes, Mercurey,

France Assignee: Le Bouchage Mecanique (L.B.M.),

Paris, France Filed: June 26, 1972 Appl. No.: 266,343

Foreign Application Priority June 25, l97l Int. 215/7, 42, 46 R, 39

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l0/l967 Musy United States Patent [191 Coursaut MTENTEB IA! 14 E374 SHEET 1 0F 3 F/GIZ FIG. 3

PAIENTEnm 14 um 13. 8 l O 5 56 SHEET 2 OF 3 -fuged plastic. The skirt has a thickness about the same BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to easy-opening, tamper-proof caps for receptacles such as bottles having a smooth neck, that is, one without threads, catches or the like.

Caps of the general type involved, having a top or roof and a skirt integral with and depending from the periphery of the roof, are known. Such caps may be made of a soft deformable material such as sheet aluminum, alloys of lead and tin, syntheticplastics, etc., and are used to initially obturate the pouring opening of the bottle, as well as stopping the same after opening, as when a portion only, of the contents is initially poured. The caps envelope both the stopper or seal of the pouring opening and a greater or lesser portion of the neck of the bottle. The skirt portion which extends down about the neck of the bottle has a plurality of perforatio'ns along a circumferential line and which form a weakened zone along which the cap may be severed or broken as a preliminary to opening of the bottle.

Caps of the type involved, especially those bearing revenue stamps should be proof against fraudulent opening as in those cases where it is fraudulently intended to re-fill the bottle or to re-use the stamps. However, such unauthorized re use can sometimes be effected by deformation of the cap material and removing the cap without damage so that it may be subsequently and fraudulently reused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has as a major purpose the provision of a cap and the combination thereof with a bottle neck, which is tamper-proof because it cannot be removed without damage such as will render the cap incapable of reuse. It is also an object to provide a cap of the type mentioned, which is easily initially emplaced, easy and simple to remove in opening of the bottle, and which can be manufactured at a price competitive with presently-known or prior art devices. Generally speaking, the present inventive cylindrical cap does not differ greatly in appearance from those which are secured in place by screw threads, and which must be made of heavier gage material or metal.

The inventive cap has interiorly, in contact with its top or roof forming the pouring spout obturation, a fluid-tight sealing capsule or gasket of cork or centrias that of the roof and is formed immediately below with an interiorIy-protruding circular channel located between an upper zone of the bottle neck of smaller diameter, and an integral enlargement thereof. The channel has an internal minimum diameter equal to the external diameter of the top portion or pouring spout of the bottle neck. The bottle neck and interior surfaces of the cap are smooth, that is, without threads, catches, etc. The over-all internal height or dimension axially of the neck, of the aforesaid upper zone is about 6 mm.

Thus the upper part of the skirt forms a constricted waist the upper and lower circumferential portions of which are in contact with the neck of the bottle, while its central or intermediate portion forms a bridge which is radially spaced from and out of contact with the neck and thus forms an annular or ring-like space between the pouring spout and the enlargement. Advantageously, contact of the upper part of the waist with the spout of the bottle is effected by a plain circular groove which in addition to its space-forming role, also acts to maintain the sealing pad or gasket in fluid-tight engagement with the roof of the cap. To open the bottle the cap is cut circumferentially of the neck, at the level of the aforesaid bridge which, being spaced from the bottle neck, facilitates the entrance of a cutting blade or tool, and acts to guide it in a circumferential path.

As an added feature the central or bridge portion of the waist has a plurality of circular openings therethrough, spaced peripherally about the skirt, each having its edges directed internally. The openings are located at a level where the wall of the channel is outwardly directed away from and out of contact with the pouring spout. In a preferred form those openings are omitted over a small peripheral extent of the skirt, to thus provide a hinge for the roof and its sealing pad, thus retaining them connected with the skirt for re-use and re-sealing.

The construction just described defines an essentially circular line of severance and acts to facilitate opening of the bottle by making it easy to insert a thin knife blade or similar utility and guiding it in the desired path. While the roof and seal may be entirely thus severed and removed, it is preferable to leave a hinge portion as previously described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows the profile in longitudinal axial section,

of a portion of the neck of a bottle with which the inventive cap is used;

FIG. 2 is a view partly in section and otherwise in elevation, of a cap prior to emplacement over the neck of the bottle and subsequent deformation;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal axial section to an enlarged scale, of a cap after it has been emplaced over the bottle neck and deformed into connection therewith;

FIG. 4 is an axial section showing the cap after opening and with the top hinged back for pouring;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the cap showing the openings forming a weakened line of severance;

FIG. 6 is an elevation of a modification wherein a weakened line of severance is formed or defined by aseries of sequential slots;

FIG. 7 is a view partly in section, to a scale enlarged over FIG. 6, the sectional portion being in a plane identified by line VII VII, FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a portion of the cap of FIG. 6 in section, in a plane indicated by line VIIIVIII, FIG. 6.

DECSCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, the bottle neck with which the novel cap is used, is formed with a circular top 1 surmounting a cylindrical pouring spout 2. Next below spout 2 is an enlargement or band 3 defining first and second, upwardlyand downwardly-facing annular shoulders 11 and 4, respectively, FIG. 1. From shoulder 4 the neck 5 extends smoothly downwardly and radially outwardly. It is noted that the diameter of the enlargement is materially greater than that of the spout.

The cap is formed with a top or roof 6, FIG. 2, and an integral skirt 7 depending therefrom. A circular constricted groove or channel 8 is formed in the upper part of the skirt contiguous to its juncture with the periphcry of the top and thus in addition to its other functions, acts to to secure sealing pad 9 in place. The pad or gasket is relatively thin. The diameter of that portion of the cap below channel 8 and overlying'enlargement 3 is fitted to have slight frictional contact therewith so that rotation of the cap relatively to the bottle neck is restrained. The cap may be made of material such as sheet aluminum having a thickness of 0.2 to 0.3 mm. and which is ductile and readily deformable in manufacture. v

The channel 8, FIG. 3, is formed in such a way that its minimum internal diameter as indicated at 10, contacts spout 2. The axial dimension of the channel is, as shown, less than the corresponding dimension of the spout so that there is left an appreciable annular space 12 just above shoulder 11, wherein the surface of the skirt is radially spaced from the spout.

The portion 11a of channel 8, lying between the annular line of contact l'of the channel with the spout, and the initial line of. contact 13 between the skirt and enlargement 8, forms a circular bridge connection 14 whichis, as shown, out of contact with shoulder 11 and spout 2. Between those two lines of contact and 13,

bridge 14 may be cut or severed along a circular line, using a suitable blade or tool such as a knife. If desired, the bridge is formed over a limited peripheral distance, so that it seats fully within and against spout 2 and shoulder 11 to thus form a hinge portion as indicated at 15,. FIG. 3. Thus this limited portion of the cap is normally not severed but remains to form a hinge connection, FIG. 4, pivotally attaching the top of the opened cap to its skirt. The location of the hinge 15 is indicated and identifiable by means of two circumferentially-spaced openings 14a located at the respective termini of the hinge. The openings 14a perform two additional functions. They assure that no pocket of air under pressure is formed in space 12 at the moment the cap is emplaced over the neck of the bottle, and they also aerate the periphery of pad 9. Of course, when no hinge portion is is provided in the cap, the openings 14a may nevertheless be retained for the aforemention'ed purposes and at any selected circumferential locations, noting FIG. 5.

Skirt 7, FIG. 3, is deformed inwardly to form a' constriction at 16, beneath enlargement 3 and in contact with shoulder 4, and thence extends downwardly to make circular rim contact at 17 with the base portion stamp extending over and across, the stamp being cut and thus rendered incapable of reuse by the severance and opening, thus positively preventing further or fraudulent use.

As has been noted, the material used for fabrication of the cap is more rigid than in ordinary caps so that its tamper-proof feature is thereby enhanced. It is rendered impossible to insert a tool between the neck and the skirt at contact line 17 and thence under constriction 16, without tearing or cutting the skirt. After opening as shown upon FIG. 4, the cut portion of bridge 14 skirt is composed of a central circular channel 26 in.

which are formed a number of openings 27 separated by bridge portions 28. The circumferential lengths of the openings and bridge portions are substantially equal. But if desired, two of the openings may be separated by a longer bridge 29 to thus form a part hingedly connecting the upper part 30 of the cap to its lower part 31.

Openings 27, FIGS. 7 and 8, are positioned in the circular channel 26 of the waist portion of the skirt, between the cirular lines of contact 32 and 33, respectively, between the cap and the neck of the bottle. The two lips 27a, FIG. 8, formed in puncturing each of the openings, are directed inwardly and thus leave the external surface of the skirt smooth and devoid of sharp or cutting edges.

When it is desired to open the bottle, a bladed opener or a knife of conventional form, is used to cut through and along the bridge portions 28, leaving theportion 29 intact, if present. It is then possible to hinge open the upper part 30 of the cap, which remains connected to the lower part 31 by reason of hinge means 29, to

thereby gain access to the contents of the bottle. Thus the openings 27 play a part analogous to the openings 14a of FIG. 5, including that of inicating where the line of cut should terminate at the ends of portion 29. The

relatively long extent of the bridge portions 28 confers to the skirt 24 a strength sufficient to prevent elongation such as would allow pad 23 to separate even slightly from the mouth of the neck or spout. Thus the possibility of leakage from the bottle before opening, is eliminated.

As numerous changes and modifications of dimensions and proportions, substitutions of equivalent materials, etc., will readily occur to those skilled in the art, after a study of the present disclosure, the disclosure is to be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense. i

I claim:

1. For a bottle neck having a pouring spout, a subjacent neck and an interposed circular enlargement forming first and second, upwardlyand downwardlyfacing exterior circular shoulders with the spout and neck respectively, a cap having a roof and a skirt depending therefrom, said skirt being cicularly constricted immediately below the roof to form a channel of minimum diameter to contact the spout, the axial dimension of the channel being less than the corresponding dimension of the spout tothus define an annular free space between the spout and first shoulder on the one hand, and the skirt on the other hand, said space facilitating severance of the skirt at the level of the annular space.

2. The cap of claim 1, said channel being fully deformed against the spout over a limited circumferential distance, to prevent severance of the skirt over said distance and form a hinge portion pivotally attaching the roof to the skirt, after severance of the remaining circumferential distance as aforesaid.

3. The cap of claim 1, a sealing pad contacting said roof interiorly thereof, said constriction engaging the periphery of the pad to hold the same against the roof.

4. The cap of claim 3, said skirt being circumferentially and radially inwardly deformed into contact with said second shoulder to thereby hold the roof and pad firmly down in sealing relation with the rim of the spout opening.

5. The cap of claim 2, there being at least one opening through the skirt, in communication with said annular space.

6. The cap of claim 5, there being two such openings each located at a respective terminus of said hinge portion.

7. The cap of claim 1, said first shoulder forming with its junction with the spout, a guide for a cutting tool when used to sever the skirt at and along said circular space.

8. The cap of claim 1, said cap being in one piece,.of a deformable material having a thickness of about 0.3 mm and total axial dimension between the interior surface of the roof and the minimum circular line of said constriction, of about 6 mm.

9. The cap of claim 8, said material being selected from the group aluminum, alloys of lead and tin, and synthetic plastic.

10. The cap of claim 5, there being a plurality of cicumferentially-spaced openings through the skirt at the level of, and in communication with said annular space, each contiguous pair of openings being separated by an unpierced bridge portion of the skirt.

11. The cap of claim 10, said openings and bridge portions being of substantially equal circumferential extent.

12. The cap of claim 11, said openings being equally and circumferentially elongated.

13. The combination with a bottle having a pouring spout and a subjacent neck, with an interposed cylindrical enlargement defining with said spout and neck, first and second upwardly and downwardly facing shoulders, respectively, of a cap of deformable material comprising a roof disposed over and obturating the pouring opening of said spout, and an integral skirt depending from said roof and extending over said spout, enlargement and upper neck portion, said cap being circularly constricted immediately below said roof to form a channel having circular line contact with the spout at the upper end thereof, said channel having a dimension axially of the bottle less than that of said spout, to thus form an annular space between said line of contact and said first shoulder, said skirtfitting smoothly over and about said enlargement, said annular space facilitating entry of a cutting tool to sever the skirt therealong.

14. The combination of claim 13, said skirt being crimped below said second shoulder, into contact therewith, to hold the cap in sealing relation with the spout.

15. .The combination of claim 14, said neck flaring downwardly and outwardly, said skirt at its lower edge making circular line contact with said neck.

16. The combination of claim 13, there being a plurality of circumferentially-spaced openings through said skirt at the level of said annular space, and in communication therewith. 

1. For a bottle neck having a pouring spout, a subjacent neck and an interposed circular enlargement forming first and second, upwardly- and downwardly-facing exterior circular shoulders with the spout and neck respectively, a cap having a roof and a skirt depending therefrom, said skirt being cicularly constricted immediately below the roof to form a channel of minimum diameter to contact the spout, the axial dimension of the channel being less than the corresponding dimension of the spout to thus define an annular free space between the spout and first shoulder on the one hand, and the skirt on the other hand, said space facilitating severance of the skirt at the level of the annular space.
 2. The cap of claim 1, said channel being fully deformed against the spout over a limited circumferential distance, to prevent severance of the skirt over said distance and form a hinge portion pivotally attaching the roof to the skirt, after severance of the remaining circumferential distance as aforesaid.
 3. The cap of claim 1, a sealing pad contacting said roof interiorly thereof, said constriction engaging the periphery of the pad to hold the same against the roof.
 4. The cap of claim 3, said skirt being circumferentially and radially inwardly deformed into contact with said second shoulder to thereby hold the roof and pad firmly down in sealing relation with the rim of the spout opening.
 5. The cap of claim 2, there being at least one opening through the skirt, in communication with said annular space.
 6. The cap of claim 5, there being two such openings each located at a respective terminus of said hinge portion.
 7. The cap of claim 1, said first shoulder forming with its junction with the spout, a guide for a cutting tool when used to sever the skirt at and along said circular space.
 8. The cap of claim 1, said cap being in one piece, of a deformable material having a thickness of about 0.3 mm and total axial dimension between the interior surface of the roof and the minimum circular line of said constriction, of about 6 mm.
 9. The cap of claim 8, said material being selected from the group aluminum, alloys of lead and tin, and synthetic plastic.
 10. The cap of claim 5, there being a plurality of cicumferentially-spaced openings through the skirt at the level of, and in communication with said annular space, each contiguous pair of openings being separated by an unpierced bridge portion of the skirt.
 11. The cap of claim 10, said openings and bridge portions being of substantially equal circumferential extent.
 12. The cap of claim 11, said openings being equally and circumferentially elongated.
 13. The combination with a bottle having a pouring spout and a subjacent neck, with an interposed cylindrical enlargement defining with said spout and neck, first and second upwardly and downwardly facing shoulders, respectively, of a cap of deformable material comprising a roof disposed over and obturating the pouring opening of said spout, and an integral skirt depending from said roof and extending over said spout, enlargement and upper neck portion, said cap being circularly constricted immediately below said roof to form a channel having circular line contact with the spout at the upper end thereof, said channel having a dimension axially of the bottle, less than that of said spout, to thus form an annular space between said line of contact and said first shoulder, said skirt fitting smoothly over and about said enlargement, said annular space facilitating entry of a cutting tool to sever the skirt therealong.
 14. The combination of claim 13, said skirt being crimped below said second shoulder, into contact therewith, to hold the cap in sealing relation with the spout.
 15. The combination of claim 14, said neck flaring downwardly and outwardly, said skirt at its lower edge making circular line contact with said neck.
 16. The combination of claim 13, there being a plurality of circumferentially-spaced openings through said skirt at the level of said annular space, and in communication therewith. 